CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012-2017 Nissan Versa has an expensive CVT transmission failure defect that shows up plainly in our complaint data.

In late 2019, the CVT defect was subject to a class action settlement. However the settlement only covers transmission repairs up to 7 years after purchase or 84,000 miles (whichever occurs first).

Because many owners commonly drive 20,000 miles/year or more, Versa owners experiencing CVT transmission problems may find they are not covered by this settlement due to the mileage limitation.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,152 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Nissan Versa engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Nissan Versa Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #46

Jan 072023

Versa

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while reversing into a parking spot, the vehicle began to hesitate and jerk before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine and brake warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that after several attempts the vehicle restarted. The contact stated she had experienced the failure six times. The contact called and notified the Used Car dealer where she purchased the vehicle of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #45

Aug 232022

Versa

  • miles
Air bag on driver side red airbag light blinking repaired Coil needs replacing Motor mouth broken Front seat belt not locking Car wasn't starting

- Granger , TX, USA

problem #44

Mar 012021

Versa

  • miles
Muffler is rusted and the manufacture doesn't care keep saying it's your problem right now is broken and cat doesn't even have 60000 miles very upset

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #43

Feb 022021

Versa

  • 68,945 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Nissan Versa 2012 has a engine problem with the mass air sensor and also the electrical probelm.my car shut off on the road while I was driving.I sent to the mechanist but they could not find the exact problem.I also sent to a Nissan dealership but the problem still remain it. I one time almost got a accident because of it.

- Norcross, GA, USA

problem #42

Nov 122020

Versa

  • 75,848 miles
On November 12, 2020 my check engine light came on leaving from my job so I made an appointment on November 14,2020 to get the car service. I went to the Nissan car dealership spoke with the salesman in reference to my vehicle and the person stated I have water immersed in my tail light is why the check engine light is coming on and if I don't get the problem fix the light would stay on. I asked if I get the problem fix will it happen again the answer was yes do to the model and make on my vehicle I believe this should be a recall.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #41

May 282020

Versa 4-cyl

  • 78,189 miles
P0846 fluid pressure sensor - replacement of transmission control valve body/ replace complete transmission. I got a check engine light which showed P0846 code in mid 2018. However the check engine light disappeared after a while. The light reappeared now in 2020 showing the same faulty code. I went to dealership to check it out and they said that this is a common issue in Nissan 2012 Versa and that I will need to replace the transmission. They told me that the warranty has also expired as the vehicle is above 84000 miles. ( I got this light at 79K miles with the same code and it had disappeared.) I had photographed it with dates and time showing. Nissan told me that they will not help in any way and that I will need to cover the complete cost. Vehicle works pretty okay I don't feel any issues in it.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #40

Apr 012020

Versa

  • 20 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission completely quits working sometimes in the middle of driving down the road and then start back working just fine. It's like a dead paddle but I have replacement everything but the transmission. It has no check engine lights or ABS codes. It will only allow rpms up to 1 until it comes back then it starts working again it even kick off the cruise control and started blinking

- Muskogee, OK, USA

problem #39

Jan 082020

Versa 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,700 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving 55-60 mph, the RPM revved up and the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was later taken to lokey Nissan located at (27758 us hwy 19N, clearwater, fl 33761) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the cvt transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,700.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #38

Jun 212019

Versa

  • 68,906 miles
My Nissan Versa is having an electrical problem that fuses have to be changed monthly when the electrical issue is starting my car dies even if driving and engine feels heated some parts of engine have damages like if this is melting due engine overheated and there is a leak and I just can't find any mechanic that can find the leak my car also has a sweakoing noise when driving a breaking noise when moving steering wheel and my suspensions plastic protectors have ripped in slices even if I always added lubricant to it my car due to this issues has a cracked front windshield for passenger and driver fenders moving

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #37

Jul 012018

Versa

  • 63,000 miles
Car suddenly stopped running while driving, causing me to almost get rear ended 3 times. Shop adv the fuel pump burnt the fuse out causing the the car to loose power and die. The 15 amp fuse was burnt out 2 times in 12 months or less the first time was city streets the second time was on the highway at 70 mph. Bot times time I was in motion.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #36

Mar 112019

Versa

  • 94,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. While attempting to exit a parking space, all the warning indicators illuminated, the headlights turned off, the radio turned off, and the engine seized. The contact restarted the vehicle and it stalled again six feet away. When the vehicle finally restarted, it was driven with hesitation to the contact's residence. The following day, the vehicle was driven to coggin Nissan (10600 atlantic blvd, jacksonville, fl 32225) to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #35

Oct 202018

Versa

  • 72,000 miles
My car jerks when driving and has a hard time moving forward after stopping.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #34

Oct 012018

Versa

  • miles
2012 Nissan Versa having transmission problem. My mother and father were driving my vehicle and the car kept jerking lagged when changing gear. My mother was scared because she didn't know if the car was going to stop in the middle of the freeway or jerk when she pressed the gas. Nissan is well aware that it's cars have issues and they have extended warranties because of a lawsuit on some vehicles before 2012 but have not extended it for more recent vehicles which are having transmission problems. There is a class action law suit against Nissan regarding this and I have recently joined that lawsuit.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #33

Sep 202018

Versa

  • 60,088 miles
While driving this vehicle on a busy city street at 7:00 am the car suddenly stopped running and would not restart in the middle of a travel lane for no reason what so ever requiring a tow, with over half a tank of gas, and plenty of fluids all the way around. The car has been maintained so the engine should not have cut off like this.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #32

May 292018

Versa

  • 320,000 miles
Bad transmission, brakes, bearing wheels, etc. Car is parked is can't be use risky.when I bought the car it had five tamara recalls it was a risky car to drive, dealership didn't said a thing about it. Loss my money. Car was in a car dealership.

- Thomasville, NC, USA

problem #31

Apr 022018

Versa

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. After the vehicle was restarted, it would jerk for approximately 30 minutes while driving and then return to normal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer (jeff wyler fairfield Cadillac Kia Nissan, 5815 dixie hwy, fairfield, oh 45014, (513) 682-2500) where the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The contact declined to pay the fee for diagnostic testing; therefore, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and opened case number: 30914316. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Fairfield, OH, USA

problem #30

Aug 192014

Versa

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. While driving 45 mph, the contact's vehicle inadvertently shifted from drive into neutral before stalling. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and it operated normally. The contact also stated that the vehicle shifted into park while driving. When the vehicle stalled, all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to southern 441 Nissan (9405 southern blvd, royal palm beach, fl 33411, (561) 249-4254) where it was diagnosed with a transmission failure, which caused the vehicle to shift without depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched the failure online and found NHTSA campaign number: 12V032000 (power train). The contact was unsure if the vehicle was previously repaired per the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #29

Nov 252015

Versa

  • miles
The car dosent accelarate properly trans feels like it slips axles make noise after being checked and gas smell tje car turn off wjen running my tire popped after being checked

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #28

Jun 232017

Versa

  • 52,000 miles
The car suddenly stopped while I was driving. I had no control of brakes or steering. It coasted to a stop. I contacted ktnv channel 13 investigative news and they filmed me and my story. The episode aired last night and today. I have two 2012 Versa's; the other one did not do this. They are my twins cars; I try to drive one every two weeks to make sure everything is ok. The vehicle was definitely in motion when this happened; had just exited the interstate.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #27

Apr 272017

Versa

  • 69,099 miles
The transmission don't know what gear to be in when driving. When at a stop it tries to move back and then tries to move forward with your foot on the brakes.

- Springfield, MO, USA

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